Question

How can we get our toddler to let us brush his teeth?

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My toddler refuses to let me or my husband brush his teeth. He simply clenches his mouth closed. We've tried using gauze on our fingertips and a child-sized toothbrush. We've even tried brushing our teeth together, as a family, and letting him hold his own toothbrush. Nothing has worked. I'd appreciate any suggestions or tips.

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My 21-month-old son also resists having his teeth brushed, and gimmicks like getting him special toothbrushes and offering to let him brush Mommy's teeth haven't worked. So I finally worked out a routine that goes like this: When he finishes his bath, I dry him off with a big towel and then wrap him in the towel so his arms are no longer free. I put him on my lap, with one arm around him to keep his arms down, and use my shoulder and chin to keep his head (mostly still). Then I slide the toothbrush in with my other arm. He usually yells in protest, which makes it easier to reach his teeth. Then I sing a song while brushing his teeth. (The song helps because he knows that once the song's over, so is the brushing.) It's not fun, but it works.

My daughter Rachel used to throw a fit every time I tried to brush her teeth...even after trying to let her chew on her own toothbrush for a while before trying to finish the job. Then I got some unexpected help from a Winnie the Pooh character. Rachel LOVES Winnie the Pooh and Tigger. One day as we approached toothbrushing time, I got a sudden inspiration. I started to sing "The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers". She got quiet and listened...and her teeth got brushed. Of course, she only was patient long eneough for one time through. Now, about three months later, I let her chew on the brush for a while. Then I tell her it is time for the Tigger Song. I sit her on the counter and sing the song through...twice now...we've improved. If she bites down on the brush, the song pauses. When she releases the brush, the song continues. (She thinks this is very funny.) It has been a long time now since her last fight at toothbrushing time. YES!!! Oh, one more thing. Rachel now ASKS to brush her teeth, sometimes even when she has just done it a short while before. She comes to me saying, "Teeth?! Teeth?!" That is one request I am usually happy to grant as long as her toothbrush is handy. :)

Our 19-month old daughter has always been very independant and fights us for the toothbrush (and will either do it herself - barely - or not do it at all). What I have started doing the last few weeks is "tickle" her teeth. We lay her down after the PJs are on, crack her up, and I go in saying, "I'm going to tickle your teeth!" This totally cracks her up and I can brush really well with short burts as I say, "Tickle, tickle, tickle!!" Then we let her have the toothbrush AFTER we're done so she can do it herself. Good luck, just keep trying things until you find what works - trust me we have tried it all.

My daughter always loved chewing on her toothbrush when she was smaller, but I hit the same roadblock when I started actively brushing her teeth. She would get so mad. Two different approaches worked for me:
1. I waited until she was distracted (watching her one television show of the day was a good time) and brushed her teeth then figuring she would get used to the feel of it in her mouth and eventually she would just let me.
2. I waited until she was in the bath. I told her we needed to brush everyone in the tubs teeth. I would turn the bristles away, brush both duckies then elmo then her teeth. She thought it was hilarious. I made her understand, though, that I wouldn't brush the toys until I got her. This way, I did sections at a time so she wouldn't have a chance to get upset. Front, brush the toys, upper one side, toys, lower one side, toys, etc.
Hope that helps!

My fourteen month old didn't protest at first when we tried to brush his teeth. He'll barely open his moth now. Problem is, he has sixteen teeth. I sing in a silly voice or talk to him about keeping his pretty smile. He couldn't care less.

It's nice reading about the fun ways to get your toddler to brush their teeth, with games and things. I do it the not fun way, and it seems to be fine. My 16 month old brushes by herself at first (likes the toothpaste and always wants more), then I have a go, ha ha. I hold her hands so she can't push the brush away, she cries, I brush her teeth well (but gently) for about 30 seconds. Amazingly yesterday she didn't protest or push my hands away so I didn't need to hold her hands. She then looked very proud when I told her how awesome it was that I didn't need to hold her hands! Let's see what happens tonight. My first son had terrible teeth problems because we weren't strict enough.

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